Inductees 2012 - Kerry Newick

Kerry Newick

When Perth foster mother Kerry Newick found out she had made it into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, she felt surprised and flattered.

“People think it’s so special but I’m just doing something I love to do,” she said over the phone as she found a quiet spot in the house away from her 11 foster children.

Since 1987, Mrs Newick has fostered 52 kids, eight of whom were newborns. Their biological daughter was 18 months old when she and her husband started taking in children.

“We had so much to give,” she said. “We knew we could handle more children and give someone a better life.”

Expecting just one addition to the family, Mrs Newick got three siblings at once as her first foster children.

The Newicks have often cared for multiple members of the same family so they wouldn’t be separated.

Mrs Newick said many of the children came from extremely troubled backgrounds. “You have your behavioural challenges but at the end of the day, with love and care and nurturing, no one’s bad,” she said.

Mrs Newick, who is also the president of the Foster Care Association of WA, said she was still in touch with most of the children she had cared for, many of whom had grown up and had families of their own.

Her husband walked her two eldest foster daughters down the aisle and she recently witnessed the birth of a grandchild.

“I love what kids bring to you. They teach you so much because they’re so honest and so innocent and they can bring you laughter. You can see them grow into some really decent, valuable people,” she said.